photography-class-submissions

[photography-class-submissions]

Research Post 8: Andy Yeung

Andy Yeung is a landscape photographer that mainly focuses upon the Hong City area. He has recently employed aerial drone shots and 360 degree photos of the city, which each have gone viral on Facebook.

The reason I found myself drawn to it was because of how cityscapes seem to be portrayed in todays media. Most forms of media portray cities in the future like hellscapes, hopeless, and dull. Usually meant kept in theme with their settings whether it be Apocalyptic or Cyberpunk. And I think that's a damn shame because what it illustrates to me is that there is no hope for the future.

Look at the cities we have right now. They present themselves with these golden lights along with some different colored shines at their edges. It reminds me of Christmas decorations in a way. They're pretty and appeal to the eyes like candy. Especially when mixed with nature. The lights can illuminate the night while the forestry can enhance the day. This gives me even more hope that our cities will only continue to look prettier in the future.

Reference -^

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Romanticizing One's Melancholic Solitude (Final Project)

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Research Post 7: Soren Goldsmith

Soren Goldsmith is a photographer from Massachusetts who takes pictures of wildlife. He started in high school and frequented a little spot in the forest, photographing two horned owls almost everyday. But now the forest is under threat. His photographs became a way of protest in order to raise awareness for the preservation of their habitats. These pictures embody the ways nature acts within the wild and brings a sense of mystery to them.

I think generally, we like to categorize everything, know how things work, why they work. It helps provide a solid understanding for how things go about. But everything rarely ever sticks to one rule. They change, they adapt. We don't even entirely know how we function quite yet. These pictures just show just the tip of their icebergs. Here, they just live.

They give their curious gazes, wondering about us too. Why do they do what they do? What's the point? Maybe its not about the individual, it's about the system. Nature usually relies on the inhabitants of each other. Whether that be through pollination, food for others, or even terraforming, each has a place within the system. And these pictures remind me that nothing ever belongs to anyone.

Reference ^

[photography-class-submissions]

Research Post 6: Eiji Ohashi

Eiji Ohashi, a photographer from Japan, is a bit unique to me. Though his most recent work is a bit of a one trick pony, these vending machines sitting out in the middle of nowhere at times give off such a personified feeling.

Can you guess what it is? These machines sit in the middle of nowhere, standing ready for anyone that may need them. Through the hottest summers and fiercest winters, these machines endure. Even in these picture, they are the only light anywhere within the darkness. Though we may take them for granted, they will gladly provide this service, no matter how menial it may be to us.

Forever at their post, these machines give me a feeling of duty or tradition. It's their duty for any reason. Perhaps they've done it for so long that they don't know how to do anything else. Maybe they are trapped in one location forever. Or it could even be just for that one time someone comes their way for the unlikely moment they need a beverage and want one now. For their satisfaction, for ours, they will be there, always.

Reference ^

[photography-class-submissions]

Research Post 5: Todd Antony

Todd Antony is a New Zealand photographer that got me thinking a lot about his works. He has worked in the US, UK, France, and Australia and has won multiple awards like the American Photography Awards, International Photography Awards, Communication Arts Photo Annual. Originally, I wasn't particularly fond of pictures that featured people. I just thought they were boring since they usually have a person in a pose and nothing else. Perhaps some have a greater message of their struggles, but I've sop many of those that it just leaves me bored. That is not the case with these photos.

See, the difference in these photos is that its less about the person and more about the space they occupy. They are surrounded by the places they grew up in or have built for themselves. It brings a huge sense of comfort for these people to stand out from the mundane lives of ordinary people, crafting or living in a world perfectly suited for them. Along with the dimmer tones of light, these pictures make these people look like they're exactly where they need to be.

And to be honest, I can see myself in these pictures. Of course I'd want to live in a place surrounded by the things I love. These pictures show the people that have done it. It's sort of inspirational in a way. Perhaps one day I can also be in the exact place I need to be.

Reference ^

[photography-class-submissions]

Research Post 4: Ioulex

Ioulex is actually a duo of photographers named Julia Koteliansky and Alexander Kerr working with various publishers and various different artforms. They have taken pictures of landscapes that can really sell the sheer scale of some of these locations. This was part of a collection involving wildflowers, and it single handedly got me to think that wildflowers might actually be underrated. They are small, nearly popcorn sized, much different than ones that might be planted in a garden with huge extravagant petals. But is because of their small size that they are able to occupy a much denser area, making huge beds of color across the horizon.

And these pictures remind me of another thing. I had always considered that the most beautiful places on earth are usually within tight enclosed place, hard to access by anyone, and very small. These images show that beautiful scenery can stretch as far as the eyes can see. I can even feel the brisk ocean wind from the left image. I imagine that both of these locations continue on no matter which direction I look in. It'd feel so great to wander in these areas, perhaps even get lost. The images just make me envious.

Reference^

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Research Post 3: Bob Doherty

Bob Doherty's work as a photographer is... abstract to say the least. Much of his work consists of various items in an array and each one is very hard to tell the distinct difference. Now whether or not this is because of photoshop or his extreme commitment to making sure every object in his array is perfect, I couldn't tell you. But those are not the works I am highlighting today.

Leaning more into the abstract nature of his work, this images contain various objects with colors that really pop out against the backgrounds they are taken on. Almost to the point that they are so in your face that its obnoxious. These pictures though have a slight nostalgia factor for me. In a way, they remind me of those I spy books I used to read in elementary school. The random objects just seem to want to grab your attention so much that you can't help but look closer for anything that could be hidden.

The thing that makes me most curious however is the lighting in some of these pictures. The fire on the left seems to not be emitting any of its own light or it is simply being overpowered by whatever light is shining on it. And then even in the arrays, the light is so similar between each item that it leaves me confused. These works are pretty good think tanks when you want to try and figure out how they were composed.

Reference: https://www.tumblr.com/bobbydoherty

[photography-class-submissions]

Final Project proposal

For my final project, I have decided to photograph the many aspects of fall. The various colors of the falling leaves of trees, the various and enormous amounts of food present at Thanksgiving, and the changing weather. I chose this because fall has actually influenced me as a person in a sort of weird way. It’s a very calming season. It’s the easing of the mood after the hot and energetic summer.

There was a phrase I heard of a while ago. It was about, “Romanticizing one's melancholic solitude.” Fall is the season I believe that encompasses that feeling the best. Life is receding and going dormant all around you. It brings finality and rebirth in a way as we wait for the cycle to restart. And along with that, we have the colors this transition season brings.

It’s weird in a way. Why would this season give such a calmer vibe when it has a much brighter color palette than other seasons. Fall has reds, yellows, and oranges. While something like spring to me relies on vibrant greens, blues, and whites. I can’t really figure out why this is, so perhaps I’ll use this project as an excuse to find out why.

I also do have to mention how fall influenced the stories I’ve made. So if you don’t know, I’d consider myself a fledgling storyteller. For over 10 years, I’ve been creating a story that I would love to tell someday, and fall has helped me create a significant portion of it. Using its colors and calm vibe, I was able to build worlds out of it. I cannot say much else unless you got about 3 hours of free time, but I owe a lot to fall.

This project will be a learning experience for both me and its viewers. What gives fall its calm vibe? Why do the brighter colors enhance that feeling? Is fall more than just the trees and their falling leaves? These are all things I will seek and try to explain by the time this assignment ends. And hopefully, viewers can agree with what I find. Or even better, come up with their own interpretations.

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Research Post 2: Alisa Martynova

Alisa Martynova is a Russian documentary photographer. The way that she frames her photos is very interesting. There is sort of a paranormal or ethereal feel to these photos. Almost is if the things that she is photographing ghosts or haunted areas. The thing is though, there is no hostility. These "ghosts" are simply present, alone. There was a phrase I heard about once where someone was "romanticizing their melancholic solitude".

I always imagined a view like this in my head. Grasslands, a few trees, maybe a mountain or two, overcast, some fog, and the smell of rain in the air. That is the kind of solitude that I romanticized. A place that was different, comfortable, and uncertain. That is the feelings I get from these photos. Especially with the photo on the right. I could look over the side of a cliff into the gray ocean blew forever.

I also noticed a trend between all the photos. Each and every single one always have a blue or red tone accenting the lighting of the scene. The blue enhances the melancholy feel of the scenes its in. However, I cannot clearly define how I feel about the red. In some, its doesn't enhance or straight up ruins some shots for me personally. In in others, it fits in really well. It gives a sort of comfort? Perhaps warmth? I cannot put it into words, but its is just, satisfying.

Source: https://www.lensculture.com/explore/award-winners/emerging-talent-awards-2023?modal=alisa-martynova-the-winner-of-emerging-talent-awards-2023

[photography-class-submissions]

Research Post 1: Robert Capa

Robert Capa was a photographer who was able to get shots the Spanish Civil War. I found it surprising though that he actually hated war. However, I suppose it was a hostile work environment he was working in. Having been shot at myself in a game of airsoft I was photographing, I expect that he had the same luck I did.

Regarding the photos I've chosen, I can feel the grim reality that these individuals must be facing. The men on the right all look like they're thinking this may be their last day. And the man on the left is a Spanish loyalist, caught dead while still falling to the ground. That moment is so fast that you could literally blink and miss it. It really shows the reality of war and how unceremonious death can be at times.

[photography-class-submissions]

Elements of photography definitions.

Point: An aspect of the photo that the eye is immediately drawn to

Line: The use of lines create visual interest and portray a message

Texture: The visual quality of the surface of an object

Shape: When the subject gives off a 2 dimensional appearance

Color (different color contrasts): When colors interact in a way that elevate or contrast with each other in a pleasing way.

Value: defines how light or dark a given color or hue can be

Form: When a subject takes on 3 dimensions

Space (figure/ground) negative space

Principles:

Balance (asymmetrical, symmetrical, radial)

Rhythm: Elements that echo or repeat within an image

Movement: When an image can convey movement within a subject without having the subject actually move.

Scale/dominance: Shows how much of one thing compares to a whole.

proportion: comparing the size of objects, or the amount of one thing to the whole.

Pattern: A regularity within a scene

Emphasis: draws viewers into an image long enough to tell a story

Variety: Using various amount of subjects to keep the visual experience varied

Unity: When multiple aspect of an image are in harmony and enhance the theme

Rule of 3rds: A composition guideline that places the subject in the left or right 3rd of the image, leaving the other two free.

Golden Ratio: The positioning of a subject that is most pleasing to the eye. Usually by by following the Fibonacci spiral

Lighting:

Hard/specular – direct, unfiltered casts a hard-edge shadow (direct sun)

Soft/ Diffused- filtered, indirect, casts a soft edge or no shadow (cloudy)

Either can come from the:

            Front

            Top

            Side

            Bottom

            Back

            Shaft of light

[photography-class-submissions]

Theme Project Proposal

The theme project is on the way and I’ve got just the idea. I will experience a few airsoft games first hand. Airsoft is an activity in which people come together with replicas of real life weapons and shoot each other with them in a sort of military simulation. Sort of like paint pall but less messy and more focused on realism. I think this will be a good place to get photographs because these events usually take place on large sections of land inhabited by abandoned buildings and large pieces of junk, usually to build the immersion of being in an actual warzone. I wanted to photograph something like this because I’ve never actually been to an airsoft game myself despite seeing many youtube videos on the subject, buying my own airsoft guns, and wanting to for the better part of a few years. So now I’ll use this time to knock out two birds with one stone. 

Being the nature of the activity, taking a camera into a battlefield isn’t exactly the smartest idea. Trying to photograph while participating in a gun fight also isn’t exactly the most practical thing in the world. Carrying around two guns with various forms of ammunition with a camera to boot? Oh yeah, no shot… in both cases. That is why I hope to get a cousin of mine involved with me. I will follow him while he plays and take shots that I think will be appealing, and vice versa for him when it is my turn to play. Sunny days are ahead of us, so lower shutter speed, ISO’s,  and higher f-stops should be ideal. 

My goal for this project is to hopefully show the appeal of an airsoft game. It really gets you outside and gets your heart pumping if you take it seriously, or even if you take it less seriously. I hope to capture the use of many various weapons and devices during the games as well, items that can cost hundreds of dollars, often for the purpose of spectacle. It will hopefully draw more people to the sport.

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Weekend Activity Posts

Target Spotted

Where the magic happens

Getting closer, building trust

Personal project of mine

We've never been closer

The Garden Guardian

Cats really are curious

The place I look forward to everyday

Goodbye friend

My current preferred form of storytelling

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Introduction

Hello, my name is Brandon Gonzalez and I am starting a Linkedin blog for my photography class. Currently, I don't plan to use photography too much. Heck, I barely even have any pictures of myself anywhere. The true goal is just to fulfill the requirements for my Animation Intermedia major. I do this in hopes that I can write and animate my own show one day.